Industry asked to lead the way to a low-carbon future

At the CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) Participants Annual Forum, held last week at the Australian Maritime Museum, Professor Dennis Else called for industry to lead the way in making a low-carbon, energy-efficient future for the built environment.

The forum featured Australia’s latest low-carbon research and visions for the future from industry leaders, the government and top researchers in sustainability and the environment. It was opened by Professor Else, who chairs the Research Advisory Committee for the CRCLCL and is also executive director, sustainability, safety and health at Brookfield Multiplex Australasia.

Professor Else stated that collaboration and commitment by the industry is crucial to generate collective impact. While individuals may not desire a common goal, greater momentum can be generated by sharing information and keeping a more holistic view when conducting strategic planning. Both individual goals and better overall outcomes are achieved in this way, he said.

“By harnessing the technology available to us and conducting further research, our built environment can positively impact on people’s health, wellbeing and productivity whilst improving the building industry’s environmental performance,” said Professor Else.

“We already know ways in which we can build hospitals that heal faster, schools in which kids learn faster and offices where people are more productive, creative and healthy. There are many significant opportunities to share ideas, to use sustainable building materials, renewable energy and other capabilities that exist or are currently undergoing research, to create a built environment that contributes to our wellbeing in these ways.

“The work of the CRCLCL, its partners and the research it funds continues into engineering, materials, technology and low-carbon systems to help achieve such goals,” he said.

Additional speakers included Curtin University Research Fellow and television presenter Josh Byrne, who introduced his new series Josh’s House: Star Performers; and Federal Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt and NSW Minister for the Environment Rob Stokes, who spoke about Australia’s low-carbon future and funding.